Rotary engine



July 7, 1931. S, M, pm 1,813,763

ROTARY ENGINE Filed Feb. 19, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5/6/3 13); M Price INVENTOR ATTORNEY S. M. PRICE July 7, 1931.

ROTARY ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1930 m mum-OR A ORNEY July 7; S. M. PRICE ROTARY ENGINE Filed Feb. 19, 1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 (7&4 @1 5.

' 3a u Mll nllh 35 SZer/zhy M Priz'e NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 1931 {TED STATES STERLING M. PRICE, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA ROTARY ENGINE Application filed February 19, 1930. Serial No. 429,683.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and the principles of the invention may find embodiment in an engine in which the motive fluid may be an explosive charge, a fluid under pressure, or a gas under pressure, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a rotary engine which will operate at a constant rate of speed and with a steady motion and one which may be substantially devoid of valves, so that the necessity of repairs, which are incident to the use of valves, is obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine so constructed that it '15 will consist of but few parts, and the parts and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which i Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the engine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. 1 1

Figure 8 is a vertical diametric sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of 4 Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4: is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the rotor body of the engine.

Figure ,5 is a view in elevation, at right angles to Figure 4, illustrating the rotor body.

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of one of the cylinders of the engine.

: Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional'view thru the cylinder on the line 77 of Figure 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. I

Figure 8 is a view in end elevation of one of the pistons of therotor.

Figure 9 is a View in side elevation of the piston shown in Figure 8.

Theengine casing is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and the same is of substantially circular form and is preferably made in two counterpart sections, provided with flanges 2 united by bolts 3, the casing being provided at its lower side with a base,

indicated in general by the, numeral at, and this base being likewise formed in two sections. Interiorly, the body of the casing in which the rotor and its associated parts are mountedand operated, is of true cylindrical form, and the casing sections are pro- Vided, concentric to the circumferential wall of the casing body, with alined openings 5 to accommodate the shaft for the rotor, this shaft being indicated by the numeral 6 and being provided at one end with a collar 7 which is threaded thereon and secured by a set screw 8, toengage one of the casing sections at the bearing opening 5 therein. A' pulley 9 has its hub '10 keyed as at 11 upon the other end of the shaft 6 and the hub engages at one end against the other member of the casing at the bearing opening 5 therein, this end of the shaft is threaded and a washer 12 and nut 13 are fitted thereto and the nut may be adjusted so as to secure the pulley against longitudinal displacement.

The rotor comprises a body which is indicated in general by the numeral 14 and this body comprises a hub 15 and an annular body portion 16, which latter portion is formed at equidistant points in its circumference with recesses 17 having walls at right angles to each other, these recesses, confining between them, segmental heads which are indicated by the numeral 18,- and each of these heads is formed with a cylindrical bore 19 which opens through one face of the head and is ciosed at the other face of the head except thatvthe passagewayQO is formed in each head on aline diametrical of the closed inner end of each bore 19. These passages 20 are substantially radial to the axis of rotation of the rotor body and, in the circular path described by the passages in the rotation of the rotor and at opposite points in the two casing sections. Extending into the casing in alinement with each other, there are formed openings 21, into which pipes 22 may be threaned. Either of these pipes may be the inlet pipe for the explosive gases, the air or gases under pressure, or a fluid, such as water, under pressure, and the other pipe will constitute the exhaust.

Rotatably mounted in each of the bores 19 is an engine cylinder which is shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, and which is indicated by the numeral 23 and each engine cylincer is closed at one end as at and provided in one side,.substantially at its closed end with a port 26.

For a purpose to be presently explained, studs 27 are provided upon the inner side of the wall of each cylinder at diametrically opposite points and on a line at right angles to the axis of the port 26. Each cylinder is further provided, at its open end, with a circumscribing series of gear teeth 28 which are diagonally arranged as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The teeth 28 of each cylinder mesh with teeth 29, which are of similar formation, and which are pro vided upon the face of an annular body 30 which is secured in place by screws 31, upon the inner face of one of the casing sections, and with its outer edge in contact with the circumferential wall of said section. At this point it will be evident that in the rotation of the rotor body, the portions 28 of the cylinders 23 will mesh with the teeth 29 and rotary motion will be imparted, in a continuous manner, to the cylinders, so that the port 26 of each cylinder will, at one period in the rotation of each cylinder be in communication with the respective passage 20 at one side of said passage, and, during a succeeding period of the rotation of the cylinder, the port 26 will be in communication with the correspondin passage at the other end portion thereof, and therefore the rotation of the cylinders provides for successive periods of communication of their ports 26 with the intake and exhaust sides of the passages 20. In order that the outer ends of all of the passages 20 may all times be in communication with the intake and exhaust sides of the engine, annular channels are formed in the inner faces of the walls of the two casing sections con centric to the axis of rotation of the rotor.

The pistons of the engine are of the form illustrated in detail in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, and each piston which is indicated by the numeral 33, comprises a cylindrical head 3a and this head is provided near its outer end with a groove in which is seated a piston ring 35 and, inwardly of the piston ring the cylinder head is formed with the circumscribing groove 36 in which a ring 37 for retaining lubricating oil is fitted, these rings being of the usual type and of course snugly engaging the bore of the cylinder in which the piston is fitted. Each piston head 34 is further formed, between its inner ends and the ring 37, with two grooves 38 which have a line of extent which describes substantially an ellipse and these grooves are oppositely arranged and intersect at opposite sides of the piston head. The studs 27 which, as above described, are formed upon the inner surface of each cylinder 23 and engage in these grooves, and it will be evident that in the rotation of each cylinder and the reciprocation of the respective piston, the travel of the studs in the grooves will be of a continuous nature. Each piston further comprises a stem 39 which is fiat sided and, by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the portions of the casing sections, outwardly of the circumferential wall formed by the same, are recessed so as to provide an annular channel 40 which is concentric to the axis of the rotor and the side walls of which are spaced from each other andoccupy parallel planes, the spacing of these walls being such that the flat sided stems 39 of the pistons may be passed between-the walls and slid readily between the same in the rotation of the rotor in the reciprocation of the pistons and, due to the flat sided character of the piston stems 39, the pistons will be held against rotation.

In order that lubricant may be supplied to the piston stems, a sump 41 is provided in the lower portion of the casing and is in communication with the annular channel 40 and a liquid lubricant is introduced into, this sump and into the space 40 to substantially the level illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Fuel is supplied to the annular channel 32 upon the intake side of the engine, the rotor 14 being started in any suitable manner. When the ports 26 of the cylinders 23 move into register with this channel, the fuel will enter the cylinders. Expansion of this fuel will act upon the pistons, and as the pistons are held against rotation, the cylinders will revolve. This rotary movement of the cylinders will, through the pinions 28 and gear 29, impart movement to the rotor 14 and to the shaft 6. The cylinders will continue to rotate, and when the ports 26 reach the channel 32 upon the exhaust side, the spent fuel will be forced outward and the cylinders will be ready for a fresh charge. As the pistons are timed .to operate at different intervals, a continuous impulse will be imparted to the rotor.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be understood that regard less of which of the pipes 22 constitutes the intake pipe or exhaust pipe, the operation of the engine will be smooth and steady. It will furthermore be evident that inasmuch as it is by the rotation of the cylinders that the port 26 of each cylinder is successively brought into communication with the intake side of the engine casing, then closed, in riding past the portion of the bore in which the passage 20 is formed and again opened to exhaust the charge, the employment of intake and exhaust valves is entirely obviated.

What I claim is 1. In a rotary engine of the class described, a cylindrical casing, a rotor mounted for rotation therein, cylinders mounted tangentially in the rotor for rotary movement about their own axis, means for continuously rotating the cylinders in consonance with the rotation of the rotor, each cylinder having a port in its inner end, the rotor having ports opening transversely therethrough and with which the ports of respective cylinders are adapted to successively communicate in the rotary motion of the cylinders, the casing being provided with inlet and exhaust passages in communication with the ports in the rotor.

2. In a rotary engine of the class described, a cylindrical casing, a rotor mounted for rotation therein, cylinders mounted tangentially in the rotor for rotative movement, means for continuously rotating the cylinders in consonance with the rotation of the rotor, each cylinder having a port in its inner end, the rotor having ports opening transversely therethrough and with which the ports of respective cylinders are adapted to successively communicate in the rotary motion of the cylinders, the casing being provided with inlet and exhaust passages in communication with the ports in the rotor, the means for continuously rotating the cylinders in consonance with the rotation of the rotor, comprising an annular series of teeth upon the outer end of each cylinder, and an annular series of teeth upon the inner side of one wall of the casing, engaged by said teeth upon the cylinders.

3. In a rotary engine of the class described, a cylindrical casing comprising two casing sections having relatively spaced wall portions, and a cylindrical chamber within the bounds ofsaid wall portions, cylinders mounted tangentially in the rotor for rotative movement, means for continuously rotating the cylinder in consonance with the rotation of the rotor, each cylinder having a port in its inner end, the rotor having ports opening transversely therethrough and with which the ports of respective cylinders are adapted to successively communicate in the rotary motion of the cylinders, the casing being provided with inlet and exhaust passages in communication with the ports in the rotor, pistons mounted for reciprocation, each in a respective one of the cylinders, each cylinder being provided, interiorly, with diametrically oppositely located studs, the head of each piston being provided with two grooves having lines of extent describing, substantially ellipses, the grooves being oppositely arranged and intersecting at opposite sides of the piston head, the studs engaging in respective ones of the grooves, each piston including a fiat sided stem extending and operating between the said spaced wall portions of the casing, 

